Q&A With Kristine Blond

Wednesday, 01 February 2017

Ahead of her performance for our 16th Birthday on 4th March, we caught up with “Love Shy” hit-maker Kristine Blond to find out more about the clubbing scene in her hometown Denmark and what she’s up to now.

You grew up in Denmark, is that correct? What was the music scene like where you were growing up?

I grew up and still live in Denmark, yes. In my early childhood I would listen to whatever my parents would listen to… which was a lot of experimental modern classical music (very strange music) and then Queen! – and a lot of feminist female Danish singers also!

When I became a teenager and switched on the radio, I would listen to everything that was popular at that time - which was in the nineties. It was like a revelation getting introduced to current music… at that time I especially noticed Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Björk, Robin S, Eternal…

Did you always want to be an artist?

My parents are musicians. There was music all over the place in my childhood and I thought of it as their thing and something I didn’t want to do full-time. I remember dreaming of being a weather reporter thought – nothing artistic about weather, I guess. I was probably around 15, when I decided that I wanted to sing.

How does the clubbing scene in Denmark compare to that of the UK?

The clubbing scene is much more like a religious thing in the UK, in a good sense! People are truly music lovers. The tradition is much stronger and reaches a wider audience that it does in Denmark, where I would describe it as more of a niche.

What was the first record you ever bought?

Mariah Carey’s debut record [“Vision of Love”]

How old were you when you got your first record deal, and how did it come about?

I was 19 years old… it’s the longest story in the world how that came about, but it was a long journey and pretty tough for a young, very immature girl from Denmark.

When were you first exposed to UK Garage music and what do you love about it?

When “Love Shy” was remixed by Tuff Jam. I just love that it brings people together.

You’re responsible for one of the biggest UKG hits of all time, “Love Shy”, which you’ll be performing for our 16th birthday in March. Did you ever expect it to take-off like it did?

I didn’t expect that at all, no! And I’m truly, truly grateful that my song has reached so many people because of the clubbing scene.

Now “Love Shy” has since been remixed by the likes of Todd Edwards, Tuff Jam, Club Asylum, among many others – is there such a thing as too many remixes?

If the song is strong and catchy enough and people want to listen, I don’t think there’s such a thing, no! And “Love Shy” is definitely strong!

You’re a talented songwriter as well as a great vocalist – do you prefer singing or song writing or do you find that the two go hand in hand?

Singing wins over everything… it’s what I love more than anything (except from my kids, of course).

And, finally, what have you got lined up for us in 2017?

Trying to find time for singing and writing, but I have small children, so time is short at the moment.